Allister Barsby receives 2015 Acorn Award

Allister Barsby, the head chef at Gidleigh Park, has just been acknowledged as one of 30 young stars to receive the 2015 Acorn Award. Allister was nominated by Brownsword Hotels and is one of less than 900 people who have won the award since it began in 1986.

The Acorn Award is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, and is given exclusively to 30 of the most promising upstarts under the age of 30 every year.

Allister said: “Since taking my first kitchen job aged just 14, I’ve known that this is the industry for me and it’s fantastic to have been recognised with such a prestigious award. The team at Gidleigh Park, from Michael Caines MBE through to our most junior members, is one of the best, and their support and dedication should be recognised by this award too”.

Allister joins the likes of previous winners Marcus Wareing and Jason Atherton. Amongst those he is now held in high esteem with is also his colleague Sam Moody, who is the executive chef at Gidleigh Park’s sister hotel The Bath Priory. Moody won the Acorn Award in 2013, and is also the only person to hold a Michelin star rating in Bath.

Jason Carruthers, The CEO of Brownsword Hotels said: “We are delighted that Allister’s talent has been recognised by an Acorn Award.  Since joining us at Gidleigh Park aged just 19 and having spent time in both the kitchen at Gidleigh Park and at The Bath Priory, we’ve long been fans of Allister’s talent and attention to detail, and offer him our warmest congratulations”.

Those tempted to sample Allister’s cooking can enjoy lunch at Gidleigh Park from just £45.50 per person for two courses, or dinner from £118 per person for three courses, including coffee and petits fours.

By Jack Mckeever